Just pointing it out since it was new for this year, and some people may not be aware of it.

We hunted hard last week ans a couple of us came close but no cigar. We located a hot bird Thursday before the opener and for whatever reason everyone wanted to hunt close to the area I generally hunt, so because it was a little distance I couldn't get any of the guys who do back and hunt that hot bird the next morning. That bugged me so I sent another biddy from the forum over to the area, but I think they got a late start and when they got there another hunter was walking out of the area with what I believe to be the hot bird we called to. In the area I usually hunt, one of the guys heard a faint gobble the evening before the opener and we found a few tracks. We spit in about 5 different directions and I hunted with a first timer and we only heard one gobble opening morning. Hunted a different area that evening and heard nothing no we went back to my usual hot spot the next morning. We heard another gobbler on the roost and later worked another gobbler who was answering me and another guys call. We were talking to a bunch of hens and he was coming with them, and just at the last minute they got spooked and shut down. After everyone but me and one other guy left we got some fishing done and caught some catfish, then went to another spot in the woods. We hunted not too far apart but far enough that with the forest cover and hills we couldn't hear one another call, so when I heard 2 or 3 different gobblers he never heard them. There were a lot of hens around and it was close to time to go to roost, so about 7p.m. I got up and walking knowing nothing was coming in spite on all the gobbling and responses I got, so I walked a good way in and fount several birds going up to roost. Too bad I wasn't able to hunt the next morning ..else I would've had a bird. Planning on going back soon so hope no one else has ventured deep into this knew area...looks like no one has traveled back that far in a while so we shall see...

Good luck on your next outing Terrance! I am planning a day trip before the end of the season, but won't be anywhere near your honey hole or other spots you showed me. Need to do a little more research before I finalize plans....

Don't know if you're thinking about going where you and I wanted to go after all the locals and the game wardens were telling us that's where they were seeing all the birds. I was thinking about researching checking out some of those areas up there myself at some point...Met a few hunters at the check stations last couple of years who saw and harvested a lot of birds up there. Was just too spoiled to leave from where I've been successful hunting the past couple of years...

Had to go back to the honey hole and work on those birds I roosted a few weeks ago. Glad I did else I wouldn't have been able to harvest my third public land eastern three years in a row. Sat from 8a.m. until almost 11:30 without hearing a thing and once I decided to call one more time he gobbled from right behind me. I kept calling until I could tell he was walking in my direction and before he got in range enough to see I got in position and aimed my shotgun in the direction of my decoys. I see a head stick out from knee high grass towards my decoy setup and realized it was a hen he'd been following. I could hear him spitting and drumming from my left flank and before long he was at my decoys picking a fight. I had to stay still while aiming my shotgun in that direction because the hen was just feet in from of me. Pulled the trigger at the first opportunity and he staggered forward and ran off in the direction he came from and dropped 15 yards. Hen stood there until I stood up and see took off.

Awesome job Terrance!!! and thanks for the neat write-up.

I found a place I really liked that I set up in. It was 'alive' with lots of animal activity. I thought I heard a few hens and a gobbler in the afternoon, but couldn't call anything in. Most of the places I saw driving around were thick pine woods interspersed with some oaks with very poor visibility. I think it is worth another try next season, with a little more scouting done in the off-season.

Did anyone else in your group see or hear anything?

Good point Tjack. On Google Earth there were areas that looked cleared out, but when I got there I saw that they had been planted with new pine trees which had grown to about 10 ft or taller. Looked like an absolute nightmare trying to walk through those sections, so I didn't and stayed on the edges. Not sure when images are updated in Google Earth (or if ever), but they had to be a few years old. Is there a better online tool comparable to Google Earth that is better for hunters and fishers?

Did a scouting trip this morning in Red River County and found 3 toms, one gobbled till nearly 9 AM this morning. Have to see what the weather holds for tomorrow, but plan to hunt at least a couple of days this week.

Gman

No Texas Eastern for me this year. After the storms that ravaged Red River County last night, I can't get close to the birds. Not a gobble was heard this morning. Neighbors rain gauge showed 5.50" of rain last night.

Gman